Training and role responsibilities
All staff and students are required to undertake regular training to understand their role in preventing, identifying and responding to cases of harassment and sexual misconduct.
Training for students
All students are required to complete training each year about harassment and sexual misconduct. It’s important that all students at the University understand:
- what is meant by harassment and sexual misconduct
- how to report these behaviours should you experience or witness them
- the support available to you
- what consent is and how to intervene effectively.
To ensure that you have an understanding of the issues and expectations around harassment and sexual misconduct, all students are required to complete online training at the start of the academic year.
The training is available on Blackboard and split into three modules:
- Harassment and sexual misconduct: how our University responds
- Bystander intervention
- Consent on campus
Training for staff
All members of staff are required to complete the mandatory ‘Supporting our Students’ module every two years. This includes information about Condition of Registration E6, how our University responds to harassment and sexual misconduct, and our approach to staff and student relationships.
Members of staff who undertake or support formal investigations, or act as panel members under our student and staff procedures are experienced and receive specific training for carrying out these roles.
We have implemented additional specialist trauma-informed training on sexual harassment and sexual misconduct for cohorts of investigators, panel members and HR staff. We are committed to maintaining a pool of specialist trained staff and continually evaluating our training provision.
Responsibility matrix
Role | Responsibility |
Designated Safeguarding Lead | University officer with overall responsibility for safeguarding. |
Human Resources (HR) | The service responsible for:
|
Residence Life (Conduct) | The team responsible for managing alternative resolutions and investigating misconduct where is has taken place in (or is linked to) the University residences. |
Residence Life (Support) | The team responsible for providing support for students living in University residences. This team also includes trained SVLOs. |
Risk Assessment Panel | The Panel is responsible for assessing risk to students, the University community, members of the public and/or the interests of the University, relating specifically to statutory safeguarding, the Prevent Duty and/or student conduct. |
Safeguarding and Welfare | The team responsible for:
|
Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs) | Specially trained staff who provide support to students who have experienced or have been affected by sexual violence or sexual misconduct. |
Student Conduct and Appeals | The team responsible for managing the University’s disciplinary procedures. |
Student Engagement and Progress | The team responsible for managing student complaints procedures. |
Student Experience Diversity and Inclusion | The team responsible for managing the University’s student alternative resolution process and for managing the delivery of training to students in relation to harassment and sexual misconduct. |
University Investigator | Person responsible for carrying out investigations in line with the General Regulations for the Discipline of Students. |